Stingray Group Inc.

Stingray Digital was founded by a partnership of Eric Boyko, Alexandre Taillefer and Telesystem. This followed the group's purchase Soundchoice for $6 million.

Stingray acquired the commercial-free cable TV Galaxie music service from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for $65 million. It was renamed Stingray Music.

2010

Alexandre Taillefer left Stingray.

2015

Stingray began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 3. On the same date, Novacap, one of Canada's leading private equity firms, sold most of its 29.4% stake in Stingray Digital Group Inc. Novacap had been involved with Stingray for seven years.

2018

On May 2, Stingray announced its intent to acquire Newcap Radio for $506 million. Following regulatory approval, the sale was completed on October 26. The family of Newcap founder Harry Steele became Stingray's largest third-party shareholder. The purchase of Newcap brought Stingray into the broadcasting business and made the company one of the largest operators of radio stations in Canada.

In September, CKDQ Drumheller changed branding from “CFCW” to Real Country 910.

In December, CKRA-FM Edmonton changed from Classic Hits Capital FM to The Breeze with an Adult Contemporary format. Vancouver’s CHLG-FM switched from Classic Hits LG 104.3 to Adult Contemporary as The Breeze. CKEC-FM New Glasgow changed from East Coast FM to Mix 94.1, keeping its Adult Contemporary format. CKEZ-FM Pictou remained Classic Rock when it changed branding from Classic Rock 97.9 to Z 97.9.

In December, the company officially changed its name to Stingray Group, Inc.

2019

In January, Stingray began syndicating the Real Country 95.5 Red Deer morning show across its Real Country and boom-branded radio stations in rural Alberta, leading to the elimination of 14 on-air positions.

In January, CKUL-FM Halifax became Adult Contemporary formatted The Breeze. It had been Hot AC Mix 96.5.

In February, CFXJ-FM Toronto changed from The Move to its original branding of Flow 93.5. The format remained Hip Hop-Urban.

On May 9, Stingray announced that it planned to acquire CIXL-FM and CKYY-FM in Welland, Ontario from Wellport Broadcasting Ltd./RB Communications Ltd. subject to CRTC approval.

On July 4, the CRTC approved CHCM Marystown’s conversion to the FM band, operating on 88.3 MHz with an ERP of 59,300 watts and EHAAT of 186.1 metres (non-directional). 20 hours of local programming would be broadcast per week with the remainder coming from VOCM 590 in St, John's.

On July 15, the CRTC approved the application by Stingray Radio to acquire CHOO-FM from Golden West Broadcasting.

In the fall, Stingray entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Giant FM (CIXL) and Country 89 (CKYY) Welland from Wellport Broadcasting Limited/RB Communications Ltd, subject to CRTC approval.

Stingray rebranded two of its Alberta stations in the fall: CKWY Wainwright changed from Wayne FM to Hot 93.7 and CJEG Bonnyville switched from Kool 101.3 to Hot 101.3.

The company launched a syndicated, coast-to-coast, midday show on half a dozen of its small market country stations. The Paul McGuire Show began airing on New Country 100.7 (CIGV) Kelowna, New Country 103.1 (CJKC) Kamloops, New Country 98.1 (CFCW) Camrose, New Country 96.9 (CJXL) Moncton, New Country 103.5 (CKCH) Sydney, and New Country 92.3 (CFRK) Fredericton.

2020

On February 7, the CRTC approved Stingray’s of CIXL-FM and CKYY-FM Welland from R.B. Communications Ltd. RB was controlled by Katlynx Communications Corporation and was effectively controlled by David Holgate.

Stingray’s application for a licence to operate the previously exempt Stingray Hits video channel was approved by the CRTC. It would be licensed as an English-language discretionary service despite the fact it targeted the French-language market and broadcast about 40% French-language programming.

In April, Stingray Radio temporarily laid off just under 90 employees nationwide due to a sudden and dramatic drop in advertising. The layoffs primarily impacted employees that given Covid-19 social distancing measures and the downturn in ad revenue, no longer had work to do. The impacted employees would receive top-up provisions and continue on the company benefit plan. Stingray staff worldwide accepted a temporary wage rollback that amounted to 10% for the majority of employees and 75% for CEO Eric Boyko.

Stingray initiated what it called an economic stimulus plan, which offered local businesses the opportunity to apply for grants in the form of free radio advertising. Through the program, Stingray would provide a minimum of $15 million in radio advertising grants to local businesses in markets where Stingray operated a radio station.

In May, Stingray proceeded with its plan to air syndicated morning show The Breakfast Club on Flow 93.5 Toronto, which were temporarily halted by COVID-19. The move to transition to the syndicated show from New York City’s WWPR-FM was originally set to start airing on Flow on March 16.